BSF jawan martyred on b'day as Pak snipes, breaches IB-LoC

JAMMU: Breaking records of ceasefire violations in the year that went by, only three days into the new year, Pakistan violated ceasefire at both International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in as many as three districts- Samba, Kathua and Poonch, even as a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan attained martyrdom, the ill-fated day being his birthday.Pakistani troops resorted to firing Wednesday afternoon at Samba sector at International Border resulting into the martyrdom of a jawan, while civilians areas in Hiranagar sector were also targeted, following which few people from the area were evacuated to safer places in the late evening.Official sources informed that Pakistani Rangers violated ceasefire at 4:20 pm at IB in which a BSF soldier identified as 48-years-old Head Constable RP Hazara of West Bengal got bullet injury and later succumbed on way to hospital."At around 4:20 pm, the BSF Head Constable RP Hazara was on duty at Border Out Post (BOP) Chakdulma in Samba sector, when Pak sniper fired on him from Pak BOP Sukhmal," said sources and added that he was immediately shifted to the hospital, but he succumbed on the way. Reportedly it was his birthday today. He was born on this day in 1967.Hazra, who hails from Murshidabad in West Bengal, has served for about 27 years in the border guarding force. He is survived by a daughter (21) and son (18).An alert was sounded at IB after the sniping incident even as the BSF retaliated strongly.Pakistani Rangers also violated ceasefire in adjoining Hiranagar sector, where the intermittent firing was going on till late night.Meanwhile, Pakistan army also violated ceasefire at Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu region. Official sources said that Pakistan violated ceasefire at around 6:55 pm in Balakote sector of Poonch, firing with automatics and mortars targeting forward posts and civilian areas in Basuni village."Pak army's 801 Mujahid Regiment opened firing on Indian Forward posts from their Goga, Pir Kilinjar, Suleman and Cheel Takri posts, whereas Indian army also retaliated strongly," said Defence sources and added that heavy and small weapons are being by Pak army. Shells from Pak were dropped in civil areas of village Basuni in Balakote sector.However, there were no reports of any casualty or injury, but the firing was still on till last reports came in.Whereas, an alert has been sounded at both bordering districts of Samba and Kathua and district administration and police have been put on toes and places for temporary migration has been identified, if required to shift local population.SSP Kathua, Suleman Choudhary, who also visited border areas, said that few people from Hiranagar have been shifted to the safer places, but police and administration is ready for any situation. Similarly, SSP Samba, Anil Magotra said that as there is dense fog in the area and intermittent firing was on, if require civilians just opposite to the most effected border belts will be shift to safer places.